Sadie Was A Lady (27 page)

The stall-holder was ready as usual with a quip. ‘Now, Tessie, yer should know me better than to think I’d talk about a little thing like that.’

The two women looked at each other and burst out laughing. ‘Ooh, I enjoyed that, Mary Ann.’ Tessie wiped at the laughter tears running down her cheeks. ‘But just
wait
until I tell my feller yer insulted his manhood.’

‘Tessie, all is pure to the pure. I can’t help it if you’ve got a dirty mind. And before we lose track of what started all this off, I can’t take less than thruppence for the shirt because I’ve got a husband and two kids at home that happen to like the taste of food.’

Tessie clicked her tongue as she opened her purse. ‘Does that brick yer’ve got beat like a proper heart, Mary Ann?’

‘Yeah, it’s just like a normal heart, Tessie.’ Mary Ann pocketed the coins. ‘The only thing is, it sometimes gets a bit heavy.’

‘So yer took me money off me with a heavy heart, did yer?’ Tessie was delighted and amazed at her own wit. Her Jack would be in stitches when she told him. ‘That’s a bit of consolation for me, girl. Makes parting with me money that much easier.’

Mary Ann leaned across the table. ‘Yer in fine form today, Tessie, I’ll say that for yer. But will yer bugger off home now an’ let me get on with me work?’

‘Yeah, okay, Mary Ann, I’ll see yer next week.’

Mary Ann turned to see Sadie busy at one of the far tables. She shouted across, ‘How did yer get on with Andy?’

Sadie smiled and lifted a thumb. ‘Just like you said.’

‘Yer doin’ well if yer not caught, girl. A good day all round for yer.’ Mary Ann was smiling when she attended to another customer. She was happy things were working out for the girl, God knows she deserved something better out of life than she’d been getting.

Sadie was on pins when it was time for her to head for home. She was meeting Geoff at half-seven and she had to go home and get changed first. But she couldn’t leave without airing her fears. How to do it though, after Mary Ann had already done so much for her? There’d come a time when the stall-holder would get fed up and tell her to sort her own problems out, but Sadie hoped it wouldn’t be today.

Mary Ann threw a bundle of clothes onto the sheet spread out on the ground then came to stand in front of Sadie. ‘Yer like a cat on hot bricks, girl. If yer’ve got somethin’ to say, spit it out.’

‘It’s about the bed, Mary Ann. How am I goin’ to pay the seven and six to Andy? The most I’ll have next Saturday is half-a-crown.’

‘I’ve got it all under control, girl, so yer can rest easy, I’ll put five bob to what you’ll have, which means yer’ll owe me twelve shillings altogether. Yer can pay me that when yer draw yer two weeks’ wages.’

Sadie gave a sigh of relief. ‘I’ll be able to do that, and pay Sarah me keep. But if I have to work a week in hand for you, I’ll be stuck the following week.’

Mary Ann laughed. ‘Yer don’t work no week in hand here, love. Yer’ll get paid on a Saturday as per usual. If I pay yer the same wage as yer getting now, will that do yer while we see how things go? If your high-class superior-quality clothes stall does well, yer can have a rise. How does that sound to yer?’

‘It sounds like music to my ears,’ Sadie said. ‘I thank God every night for sending you into my life, Mary Ann. He was certainly lookin’ after me that day.’

‘Just wait until I’m yer boss, girl – yer might see a different side to me. I get a right temper on me sometimes.’ She patted Sadie’s cheek. ‘When God gave me this red hair, He gave me the temper to go with it.’

‘I’ll take me chances,’ Sadie said. ‘Anyway, I’m very quick at ducking.’ She cupped the stall-holder’s face in her two hands. ‘When I come to work for yer, I’ll work like a demon to pay yer back for all yer’ve done for me.’ She kissed both cheeks. ‘And that’s a promise.’

‘You’re looking very bright and cheerful tonight, love,’ Geoff said as they swayed from side to side with the rocking of the tram. ‘What’s happened to make yer so happy?’

During the long walk to Everton Valley Sadie had changed her mind half-a-dozen times over Geoff. First
she
was going to cut him off completely, as she was her other friends. Then she changed her mind because she needed one friend, someone to go out with, and she wouldn’t find anyone better than Geoff. And as he didn’t know anything about where she lived or what her family was like, he couldn’t cause her any trouble. She could tell him she was going to live with her grandma for a while – he wouldn’t see anything strange in that. He could even call for her if Sarah and her husband didn’t mind. So she could safely tell him part of the story and leave the rest a secret.

‘I am feeling pleased with meself – very pleased, in fact.’ Sadie bestowed a beaming smile on him. ‘I might be goin’ to live with me grandparents for a while and I’m made up. I’ve told yer I don’t get on very well with me mam and dad, they’re not easy to live with, but I get on smashin’ with me grandma. She’s lovely, like an angel.’

‘Perhaps when yer’ve settled in, I’ll be able to meet her and her husband.’ Geoff couldn’t understand why Sadie wouldn’t let him take her home – not even to the end of the street, never mind her front door. But perhaps this move might see him meeting some of her family. ‘They don’t mind yer going out with boys, do they?’

‘No, I shouldn’t think so. They’ll probably be delighted to meet yer.’ Sadie crossed her fingers for good luck. She hadn’t told him any big lies, just left out the whole truth. ‘Anyway, it won’t be for a few weeks yet. I’ll see yer loads of times before then.’

‘Where do they live?’

‘I’m not telling yer no more in case it doesn’t come off.’ Sadie told herself it had to come off or she’d die of disappointment. She’d just come from a house that wasn’t fit for any human being to live in and if she didn’t get away she’d lose her sanity.

As soon as Sadie saw Brenda on Monday morning, with her bright smile and clear eyes, she knew her friend’s fears had been groundless. ‘If you put yerself in that position again, Bren, then yer’ve only yerself to blame an’ yer’ll deserve everything yer get. Yer lucky, yer’ve had a warning so heed it. Keep away from stinkers like Alec or yer’ll get yerself a bad name and no decent feller will touch yer with a barge-pole.’

‘Don’t worry about that – I’ll be steering well clear of Alec Gleeson,’ Brenda said, nodding her head for emphasis. ‘I heard how he got that black eye, and why. And I want yer to know, Sadie, that I was stupid to believe what he said about yer and I’m sorry.’

Sadie’s voice was high with surprise when she asked, ‘Who told you?’

‘Sylvia Black from the sewing room. She said everyone in the factory had heard about it and they’re all givin’ Alec the cold shoulder.’

‘Well, at least it’ll put paid to him ruining your reputation, or anyone else’s. He’ll be afraid to open his mouth in future. But for God’s sake let it be a lesson to yer, Brenda, and keep any other boy at arm’s length. Nice girls don’t let boys do what you let Alec do, so bear that in mind.’

Sadie was silent for a while, deep in thought. Then she decided that as she’d have to go to the office today to give her notice in, it would be mean not to tell her workmate first. ‘Bren, I’ve got meself another job an’ I’ll be givin’ me notice in today. I’ll be leaving a week next Saturday.’

Brenda looked stunned. ‘Oh, yer not, Sadie. Please tell me yer not.’

‘I’m sorry, Bren, but it’s true.’ Sadie took one look at her friend’s face and was filled with guilt. And when the lies started she felt even worse. ‘I’ve got the chance of a job in a sweet shop in Aigburth and I’m takin’ it.’

Brenda had always shown signs of being selfish and childish, and it came out now as her eyes filled with tears and she wailed, ‘But what about me? We’ve always worked together, yer can’t leave me just like that!’

Sadie’s guilt evaporated when she saw the tears of self-pity roll down Brenda’s cheeks. ‘Oh, but I can! I’ve found meself a better job and I’m taking it. And if you were any kind of a friend you’d show some interest in the job and be happy for me. But the only person you’re interested in, Brenda, is yerself. Let’s hope the girl they put in my place will be as soft with yer as I’ve been for the last two and a half years. I can’t see it meself ’cos there’s not that many fools around. Not in this factory, anyway. Most of them would make mincemeat of yer if yer tried to come the little innocent with them.’ She thought back over the years to the number of times Brenda had pleaded an upset tummy or a headache for being so slow filling a crate that Sadie had given her a hand so she wouldn’t get into trouble. ‘If I were you I’d start right now learning how to do the job properly. Try moving yer arms and legs a bit quicker and with a bit of luck yer’ll be able to keep up with the new girl when she comes.’

The rest of the morning passed in stony silence. Sadie knew it was a ploy on Brenda’s part to fill her with such remorse she’d change her mind about leaving, so she let her get on with her sulking. There was as much chance of the sky falling down as there was of her changing her mind. When the dinner-bell sounded, Sadie grabbed her bag and made for the door, saying over her shoulder, ‘I want a word with Bobby, so I’ll see yer at the chippy … that’s if yer intend going.’

The smile dropped from Bobby’s face when he heard the news. ‘Ah, blimey, Sadie, just when I was gettin’ to
know
yer! But it won’t stop yer comin’ out with me, will it?’

‘No, I shouldn’t think so. Anyway, it’s two weeks off – I’ll be goin’ out with yer four times before then. And I can come and see yer in me dinner-hour because it’s only about six stops on the tram.’ May God forgive me, Sadie thought, for telling lies to someone as nice as Bobby Bennett. If only Brenda could have seen the goodness in him, he’d have been an ideal boyfriend for her. Then she had an idea. It was worth a try, and if it worked out, it would salve her conscience. ‘Bobby, on the Thursday before I leave, would yer mind if Brenda came out with us? Just a little farewell thing, nothing spectacular. I’ve worked with her since the day I started, so it would be nice to ask her … that’s if yer don’t think I’ve got a cheek for asking?’

‘If that’s what you want, Sadie, I’m willing.’

‘Bobby Bennett, yer one of life’s gentlemen, yer really are.’

‘And you, Sadie Wilson, are a real little lady.’

Sadie giggled. ‘Shall we stand here all through the dinner-break and starve while we pay each other compliments?’

‘Lookin’ at you is better than a corned-beef sandwich any day, Sadie.’

‘It won’t stop yer tummy rumbling, so I think we’d better eat. And I don’t have a lot of time ’cos I have to go to the office to hand in me notice. So I’ll see yer tomorrow, Bobby.’

Sadie was waiting to be served when Brenda walked into the chippy. She handed a penny over, saying, ‘Get mine, will yer, Sadie?’

When they were walking back to the factory, eating their chips in silence, Sadie decided it was time to break the ice. She had another two weeks to work with Brenda, and she didn’t want those two weeks to be miserable; she wished to part as friends.

‘Me and Bobby were wondering if yer’d like to come out with us next Thursday? It’ll only be to the pictures
but
it might be the last chance we get of all goin’ out together. And we’ve been friends for a long time, so it would be nice. There’s really only you an’ Bobby that I’ll miss. I haven’t made any other friends.’

Brenda had had time to reflect and come to the decision that Sadie was much more sensible for her age than
she
was. And that was all the fault of her mother for insisting upon treating her like a pampered child. But the time had come to put away childish things and grow up, like Sadie said. ‘Doesn’t Bobby mind me comin’ out with yer?’

‘Not at all. He’d be over the moon having a pretty girl hanging on each arm.’

‘I’m surprised at you goin’ out with him, he’s not handsome or anything.’

‘Brenda, how many times do I have to tell yer that it’s not the wrapping yer look at, it’s what’s inside the parcel. Next time yer see Bobby, open yer eyes and yer ears, and yer’ll be surprised. As far as I’m concerned, I’d rather have him a hundred times over than the likes of Alec Gleeson.’

‘It’ll be nice for the three of us to go out together.’ Brenda said. ‘When I tell me mam she’ll be made up. She worried that I never took Alec home, but every time I asked him he made an excuse.’

‘It’s a pity about that, ’cos your mam would have seen through him in no time, like I did. I had him pegged from the word go. I only went out with him because I had no money an’ I needed someone to pay for me.’

‘I should have taken notice of yer, Sadie, then I wouldn’t have let him do those horrible things to me. I’ll watch out for every boy in future.’

‘All boys are not the same, I’m fed up tellin’ yer! Bobby Bennett is a real little gentleman, he respects girls.’

‘I’m goin’ to look for a boy like that – someone who respects me.’

Sadie smiled as she heard the words. Brenda was very childish for her age, there was no getting away from the fact. But, please God, she’d have enough sense to see that Bobby was just the kind of boy she was looking for.

Sadie couldn’t wait for Saturday to come. The time seemed to pass so slowly. In work she’d be willing the hands of the clock to go faster while smiling and nodding her head in response to Brenda’s constant chatter. There was no sadness in her heart about leaving, no feelings of sentiment. It had been a job, nothing more. The floorwalker was a good bloke, he’d always been cheerful and helpful. But apart from him, and Brenda, she’d never made friends with anyone else in the packing room. How could you have friends when you couldn’t invite them to your home? Even on the nights she was out with Geoff or Bobby, her mind wasn’t with them, it was at the market with Mary Ann, Sarah and her own, very first proper bed. Only on the night she met Harry in the park did she feel sad. He was the only one who knew about her family and the conditions in which she lived, and yet he’d stuck by her. In Sadie’s eyes that made him a true friend and she’d miss him. She had never let herself think of him as anything but a friend because she knew it could never be otherwise. He’d settle down one day with a nice girl from a decent family, someone his mother would approve of.